Committee lays over bills to ease mortuary licensing barriers and create internship pathways

Lawmakers discussed two bills intended to address workforce shortages in Minnesota’s funeral profession and laid both over for additional work.

House File 84 would create an alternative reciprocal licensing pathway for out‑of‑state morticians by recognizing practice experience (three years plus specified service counts) in lieu of a four‑year degree; Jordan McCreavy Seitz, president of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association, urged the change to reduce barriers that prevent experienced practitioners from moving to Minnesota.

House File 85 would allow earlier supervised practice (internship) so prospective funeral directors can begin hands‑on training sooner. Sponsor Representative Hewitt and industry witnesses said both measures aim to expand the labor pool, especially in rural areas where funeral homes struggle to recruit staff.

Committee members debated potential effects on the University of Minnesota mortuary program, consumer protections, and whether changes would undercut Minnesota‑trained professionals; sponsors said the bills preserve examinations and continuing education and are designed as alternative pathways rather than shortcuts. Both bills were laid over for additional discussion.